Apparatus for producing laminated mica washers



AugZS, 1931. H. W COOPER 1,820,182

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LAMINATED MICA WASHERS Filed July l5, 1927 V`10 inforced bottoms.

Patented Aug. z5, 1931 unirsi). STATESg iaai'sz" PATENroFFicE. f

HENRY W. COOPER, F VEST NERE/TON, MASSACHUSETTS, `ASSIGNOR TO NEVIENGLAND v MICA CO., OF VALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, .A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS' l.APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LALVIINATEDy MICA WASHERS Appiication inea Juiy 1e, 1927. seriai No. 206,351.

i material is composite sheet mica in which the several Hakes and layers of flakes are caused to adhere by a suitable binder, such as shellac.

At the present time it requires three oper-V ations to make commutator rings having re- In the irst operation quantities of disks of two diierent diameters are dinked from sheets of the composite mica. Preferably the disks are in the form of washers, the central opening, however, being 15 smaller than that in the finished commutator ring. In the second operation two washers, one of the smaller size and one of the larger size, are assembled in the form of a K laminated washer which, in the third operation, is molded aft-er heating to form a unitary article to form a commutator ring having a reinforced bottom. The second operati-on Vmay be performed in an apparatus having a conveyer or carrier upon which the two i l washers to be united' are first superimposed loosely. While on the conveyer, the two loosely superimposed washers are heated, united and cooled and then the unitary articles each comprised of a. pair of united 430 washers are ejected from the carrier and may be stacked as they are ejected for transfer to and use in the molding Ymachine which performs the third operation. f The principal object of the pi'esent invention is to provide novel and efficient Figure 1 is a detail, in elevation., of the upper run-of'A an endless carrier showing the washer ejecting mechanism in its normal inoperative position;

fFig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the carrier in a more advanced position from that of Fig. 1 with the ejecting mechanism in position to pry an advancing laminated Washer from the carrier; y

Fig. 3 is a detail, in sectional elevation, on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 isa detail, in sectional elevation, on the line 4 4, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a detail showing how the prying r prongs of the ejector operaie to pry a laminated washer from the carrier. 'y

In accordance With the invention illustrated in the drawings a large disk 6 and a small disk 7 of composite sheet mica in a dry and hardcondition and each having a central l *opening of the same size, are superimposed loosely on an endless carrier 8, at a loading station (not shown), at the lower run of the carrier, from which station the superimposed disks are carried to an Veje'cting station 9, at the upper run of the carrier. During their passage from the loading station to the ejecting station the loosely superimposed disks are first heated and the heated disks are then subjected to pressure and molded to insure their concentricity and their adherence to each other during any subsequent operation-to be performed thereon. During this molding operation, the central vopenings in the disks are aligned and therperipheries of theVV disks are positioned accurately in concentric relationship. After these operations the pair of united disks are held on thelink-belt carrier as a unitary article (see Fig. 2). After the united disks have been cooled they are ejected from the carrier 8, and conveniently stacked on a spindle 10 for a later discharge to 'a machine for molding the laminated washer thus produced into commutator rings having bottoms reinforced by the smaller disk.

A machine having the features thus briefly described is disclosed in my co-pending application for United States Patent Serial No.

206,350, filed of even date herewith, the drawings of that application illustrating another ioc l form of the ejecting mechanism claimed herein. Generic claims will be found in said copending application.

The carrier 8 is a link-belt, endless conveyer comprising two parallel, spaced chains 11 the alternate. and opposite links-12 (Figs. l3 and 4) of each of which are provided' with a shelf 13. Secured to each of the opposed pair of shelves 13 is a plate 14 comprising a link of a the disk 7 centrally upon the'disk 6.

The linkbelt carrier 8- isrdrivencontinuously in any convenient manner. The chains 11 at'y the vupper .horizontal run of the linkbelt carri-er 8 are supported` upon horizontal .adjustment of the screw 40', As the carrier beams 16 and: 17 (Figs- 3' and 4) secured to the vertical posts 18, 19,20 and 21 whi-chare-bolt-A ed at t ieir bases to' the machine frame (not shown).

La' order to maintain a portion., at least, oil the upper horizontal run of the link-belt carrier 8 in a definite tixed path, the beams 16 and: 17 carry a plate 22 to which one end of a `central block 23 is secured to'bear on the plates 14 as they pass 'successively beneath the block and preventtheir lifting o. of the Vbeams 16 and4 17. The pos-ts 20- and 21' also `carry a second plate 24 to which the' other end of the block 23 is secu-rod.

limi orderto ej ect eachf pairV of. united disks when it reaches the ejeeting station 93 the-verti'eal posts`18 and 19` support a pair of prying prongs 26 which, asshewninFigs. 2V and 51,. are periodically actuated into engagement with the'plates 18' successively topryrthe advaneing pairso united disks from the plates 14;and pins 15'.. The disks pried from the plates- 14 and oft of pins 15 by they prying prongs 26 fall by gravity are threaded on the spindle 16.

.The prying prongs 26, which have a blade# like formati-on, are secured' to a yoke 27 to provid-e' clearance 3)' for the pins 15 to pass freely between the prongs.` The yoke 2?' projects-from a rockeshaft 28 the opposite endend which are journaled in bearings 29 and '36 carried, respectively,by the Vertical posts 1.8'and 19.. The position of the bearings 29 and 36- maybe adjusted vertically by ineensotthefsljot and screw connections 31 betweenthe'beari-ngs and the vertical posts. Toi aid in raisingand loweringy the bearings vertically on the posts 18 and 19', and to obtain a tine adjgustmentof position, the' bear'- ings engage-screws-,32 which are threaded for adjn-istment into blocks 33fsec-ured to they vertica-l posts 18 and 19. A y

In order to) hold: the prying prongs 26 ini their V.lermred or normal inoperative position (see: Fig. V1) the rock-shatt28 carries an arm 35' haring nea-rits rearend- Vlateral lng 36.. One end of' a coiled spring 38:4 is hooked. tothe lng'3-6 andi its other end Centrally of each of the plates 14 is centering pin 15 for locating the disk 6 on the platel4and also Jfor superimposing hooked through an eye-bolt 39 depending from the beam 17. The rocking movement of 38 is adj ustably limited by a screw 40 carried by a` second lateral lug 41 on the arm 35. Upa-*ard movement of the arm 35 and downward movement of the prongs 26 is limited by an engagement of the screw with the beam 16.

'Inorder to elevate the prying prongs 26 at the proper time into engagement with the plates 14 in readiness for the prongs to enter behind and pry the united disks from the plates, .the rear end oi' the arm 35 is provided with a cam end 43'hav1ng a beveled forward le-n-d44vwhich 1s normally held 1nthe. path ne pins 15 by the spring 38' and proper advances tliebevel 44 is engaged successively by the, .pins 15, whereupon the rock-shaft 28 is turned in a clock-wise direction, viewing lll-ieg.. 2, thus to elevate the prying prongs 26 Vto a positron 1n engagement withy a plate 14.

Adiace-ntthe bevel 44- on the cam end 43i1s a rejar endv bevel 46 shaped to permit it to.

slip- -by each actuating pin 15, as the pin passes forward, t'o insure the instant de `pressionotA the prongs 26, under the influience ofthespring 38', irs-soon. as the washer .to be ejected reaches the region of the spindle-10'. The parts 27, 28 and 35 may-be described as a rocker-arm having prying prongs on-one end and an actuating arm on the otherA end. f

Fig. 1 showsA the position of the ejecftng mechanism just after itqhas been operated toeject one of theunited pairs' of mica disks. As there illustrated the positioning pin 15 at the'eirtreme right has cleared the rear fend bevel 46 on the rocker-arm thus permitting the spring 38 to depress the prying prongs to eject-the washer from the link of the carrier that is second from the left in- Fig. 1. As the carrier 8 continues tom-ove to'- the right (Figs. 1 VVand 2)Y the cam end 43 is succ ,ly engagedby eachp'ositioning pin 15 in the series. The bevel 44 isdesignedV and located toV rockthe prying prongs 26? into engagement with the loaded link whichfis advancing into the ejecting station 9. VArs illustrated theI fourth pin 15 in advance of the le... edlink 'is `he'actuator forA the rockerarm.y The surface on the cam end is shaped' to hold the prying prongs 26 against the lin-k at least Yuntil the relativey positionot the prongs and link shown by Fig. 5 is attained, thus causing the prongs to pry in between the surface of the link and the disk 6 of the united pair held on the link. As the Shanks of the prying prongs are angufill larly arranged relatively to the disk supporting surface of the link these shanks act to loosen the laminated Washer from the link and pin whereupon it falls by gravity. The end bevel 46 functions to restore the rockerarm to the infiuence' of the spring 38 thus to return the parts of the ejecting mechanism to the position of Fig. 1. The down- Ward movement of the prongs 26 ejects the Washer, if need be, and throws it onto the spindle 10. The block 23, by engagementv with the back face of the link engaged by the prying prongs, resists the thrust of the prying prongs tending to elevate the engaged link and, by engagement With the back faceof the link upon which is mounted the positioning pin Which contacts With'the cam end 43, resists the thrust of the cam tending to elevate the engaged link. The block 23 thus cooperates with the beams 16 and 17 in causing the link-belt carrier 8 to move in a iixed path through the ejecting station.

The details and vmechanical devices illustrated comprise a good practical form of the invention but it is to be understood that these may be variedin form, disposition and arrangement and still be Within the invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

i/Vhat is claimed as nevv, is

l. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a carrier for conducting a series of united pairs of mica disks on its under surface in succession to an ejecting station, means for causing the carrier to move in a fixed path through the ejecting station,

and mechanism beneath the carrier and movable toward and Lrom its under surface for engaging and ejecting the united pairs on the carrier as each pair successively reaches the ejecting station.

2. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a link-belt carrier adaptedto hold a united pair of mica disks flativise on each link and movable to conduct said disks through an ejecting station, an ejecting in device at said station mounted independently of the carrier and held normally in a position preventing engagement With the disks as they pass, and an ejector operating member on each link acting successively on the ejector to move it into the plane of the links to engage and pry the disks from the carrier. y

3. v.ein apparatus ofthe class described having, in combination, a carrier for conducting in succession united pairs of mica `disks to an ejectingT station. means for causing the carrier to move through the ejecting station, a device for ejecting the pairs of disks on the carrier as they successively reach the ejecting station comprising a rocker-arm having a pair of prying prongs on one end, means for normally holding the prongs in an inactive position, and means on the carrier for operating the rocker arm comprising a s-eries of actuatat the ejecting station i ing members adapted successively to engage vsaid arm and periodically move the yprongs into prying positiomthe arrangement being such that the ejectionof any pairof disks ing member of the series that has previously passed through the ejecting station.

4; An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a carrier for conducting vin succession united'pairs ot mica disks to an ejecting station, means for causing the carrier to move through the egecting station., a

s effected an actuatf? dcvice'tor engaging said carrier and entering between a pair of mica disks and the carrier as pins on the carrier one Ator each united pair,

means for causingthe carrier to move in a fixed path through the ejecting station, a device for engaging auf prying a pair of mica disks fromthe carrier as each united pair reaches the ejecting station, and means successively engaged by said pins `for moving "7 said device into and out of engagement With said carrier.

' `o. An apparatus ot the class described having, in combination, a carrier `for conducting in succession unit-ecL pairs of mica disks to an ejecting station, a series oi positioning pins on the carrier one for each pairI of disks, means for causing the `carrier to move in a tixed path through theA egecting statiompryingprongs for engaging said carrier and for '5 disengaging pair ot disks -from the carrier as each pair reaches the ejecting station, an arm upon which said prongs are mounted to straddle the path of movement of the positioningpins, a rock-shaft lfor the arm, a second arm on the rock-shaft, a cam on the second arm, and means for holding said cam in the path of movement of vsaid positioning pins.

7. An apparatus oi the class described having, in combination. a carrier for conducting in succession united. pairs of mica disks to an ej-ecting station, a series otpositioning pins ou the carrier one for each pair of mica disks. means for causing the carrier to move in a fixed path through the ejecting station. prying prongs for engaging said carrier and for disengaging a pair of mica disks trom the carrier as each pair of disks reach the ejection station, an arm upon which the prongs are mounted to straddle the path of movement of the positioning pins, a rock-sh aft for the arm, a second arm on the rock-shaft, a cam on the second arm, and means for holding said cam in the path of movement of said poeach united pair reaches the ejecting stationf'o jIl() sitioning pins and said prongs in an inactive position, said cam, when engaged by a passing pinacting to move and hold the prongs 1n Vprying 4engagement for an interval and then torestore them to their inactive position.

8. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a link-belt carrier having a positioning pin on each link for conducting in succession united pairs of mica disks to an ejecting station, one pair of disks being supported and positioned on each link and pin,

a device for periodically engaging the disk support-ing face of each link for prying theY pair of disks therefrom as each link reaches the ejecting station, mechanism for moving said device into and out of engagement With said links, and means engaging the back tace of each link for resisting the thrustv of said device.

9. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a linlebelt carrier for supporting and conducting a series of united pairs of mica disks, one pair on each link, in Succession to an ejecting station, means for causing a plurality of said united pairs to pass through the ejecting .station all in the same plane, a device adapted to move into and out of said plane for engaging and then ejecting a pair of disks, and a series of actuatingv members `for said device one on each link oi' the carrier for periodically operating said device as the links pass through the ejecting station, the ejecting device and its actuating member being constructed to permit the member on each link While at the ejecting station to pass idly and to become active only after passing the ejecting station to eject a pair ofdisks on a following link then at the ejecting station. Y

HENRY W. ooornn, 

